Gunner's Kids Revisited

I forgot to mention that yesterday while we were at the Olympic Training Center, Abs was limping.  This is nothing too unusual, she's always getting hurt doing something.  We asked her about it, and she didn't say much other than her leg hurt.

After we left the Olympic Center, we ran by the Arc, and then hit Five Guys Burgers and Fries for lunch.  We were sitting there......

Abs:  My leg hurts.
Me:  That's what you said, what happened?
Abs:  I don't know.  (Rubbing her leg)
Me:  Let me take a look at it.
Abs:  It's probably the yarn.
Me:  The YARN?????
Abs:  Yeah, it's kind of tight.

I lift up her pants legs to see tons of yarn wrapped around her leg, and tightly.  I grab a plastic knife and start to panic as I am trying to cut through the yarn.

Me:  Why do you have yarn wrapped around your leg, and why didn't you tell me?
Abs:  You didn't ask.

I'm making a mental note of that.  It was not in the parenting manual that I should ask if you have yarn tied around your leg in case of leg pain.  Geez.  I didn't get before pictures, but here are two pictures of after.

I still don't know what possessed her to do this. 

Today was Disney Live and Abs tried to hide in her room.  I finally convinced her to go.  We got there and she really perked up.  We purchased some licorice and some cotton candy.

The show was great!  Junior about came unglued and had everyone around us laughing and smiling.  The boy has some moves, and can shake his booty faster than anyone I have seen.  He jumped up and down, sang along, and was mesmerized by everything.  Abs got into it as well, and was singing, jumping, and telling me how awesome everything was.

When we left, we had the following conversation.

Me:  Looks like you had a great time Abs!
Abs:  I'm pretty good at faking it, that's what you call artificial fun.

Regardless of what she said afterward, I know she had a good time while we were there.

I watched the last 5 minutes of the Super Bowl, purged Abbie's room, and went with a friend when she took her girls to the doctor.

Gunner gets to go in late due to the Super Bowl that he didn't watch and had no interest in.  Lucky him!

The dog has been washed, I am sore from training yesterday, and the week is loaded down with trips to the gym, and Abs appointments.  Thank goodness for Gunner's kids, they keep my life interesting!

Skating

Em's troop was going ice skating, so Gunner ventured out with both girls. The last two summers when they were in daycare while I was in school, they went roller skating every week. They never really got the hang of it, but apparently ice skating is easier for them. Go figure.

Abs insisted that she have a helmet.

I'm a star!

You only have to be 16 to drive one, and apparently this is Ab's new ambition. I still have time to work on her though.

In order to earn the patch, Em has to do another two hours, so we will be back out there in the near future. It's not too expensive either over at the World Arena, and they even offer hockey lessons. I would love to play hockey, maybe they have adult lessons?

US Olympic Training Center

I LOVE the Olympics.  I love the stories behind the athletes.  I love the sight of the winners on the podium and the tears in their eyes as their national anthem plays.  I cannot wait till next Friday when the opening games will be held in Vancouver.  

We've been wanting to checkout the US Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs, but seems like something always comes up, or we are worn out from the gym.  Gunner had training this morning and his trainer is wonderful and lets me join in on Saturday mornings.  We both hurt, but we headed out anyway.

I was trying to get a picture of the kids poking their heads through the rings, but no one wanted to cooperate.  The story of our lives in pictures.

The tours are given ever thirty minutes, so we checked out the gift shop.

We hit the Hall of Fame and tried out the bobsled.

They showed a video of Olympic moments, that made me want to cry throughout, and run back to the gym and workout like crazy.

Instead we went on the tour, since that seemed easier.  I'll hit the gym tomorrow.  You aren't allowed to stop any of the athletes to take pictures because so many of them live there too.  Talk about a deal!  You get free training, room, board, college, and more.  You have to be the top 10-15 in your sport though, so I'm not there yet, maybe next year? 

They have a board when you walk in that lists all of the sponsors of the OTC, and so while the lady was talking, I see Abs hand go up.  I put it down, and then it went back up.  Then Junior looked over and saw his sister's hand up, so his went up.  Our tour guide finally stopped talking and took Ab's question.

Tour Guide:  Do you have a question?
Abs:  Oh yeah.  Can you tell me why there is a beer company that is a sponsor?  It seems to me that if they are athletes and take care of their bodies, that beer probably shouldn't be on their mind. 
(By this point everyone is giggling and agreeing with her)
Tour Guide:  Well it has a lot to do with them having a lot of money and wanting to help.  (She wasn't sure how to answer that question)

We watched some wrestling matches, and one athlete fell in love with Junior.  She was talking to him and asking for high fives. 

We saw the pool, the shooting range was closed, and met paraolympians, saw people working out in the gym, training, etc.  It was really neat, I recommend it if you are in the area.

I took a bunch of pictures of the kids on the medal stand, which turned into tears because Em only wanted gold, and Abs was tired of being the silver medalist.  Finally someone took a picture of all of us so I can say that I was there.

Sick Diet, it's what's for dinner

I made this extensive menu plan for the week, and can't find it anywhere, and can't remember what I was making.  It's okay though since Em returned home from school with an upset stomach. 

Germaphobic mother kicked in.  I've scrubbed the toilets and bathrooms, I gave up on the laundry strike and have been madly washing clothes, towels, sheets and blankets.  All the door knobs and light switches have been scrubbed.

Gunner came and asked me what was for dinner.

Me:  The sick diet of course.
Gunner:  No seriously.
Me:  I am being serious, if she doesn't feel well, we are bound to get it.
Gunner:  That's ridiculous, no one has gotten sick.

He's obviously not around when one of us gets sick and within 24 hours we have all caught it.  

The Mrs. sent us a great care package of treats for the kiddos.  Apparently Abs LOVED them because I found the wrappers underneath the bathroom sink (during my cleaning frenzy) to the gummies and the sour worms.  I thought I had them well hidden, but apparently not.  On the bright side, at least they were organic!  Thankfully she didn't find the lollipops, so I can ration those out.

Disney Live is this weekend and Abs is not excited about it.  I thought she would like it, but she opted not to go.  The tickets were bought, so she's going.  She now walks around saying "Fictional characters, woohoo" in a monotone voice, or "I can hardly stand the anticipation I feel for seeing people in costumes".  I know once she gets there she'll enjoy it, I hope.  At least Junior will be excited.

I watched Hoarders last night for the first time, and I now want to get rid of everything that I own.  It's a good thing that we move so frequently, but I still hang on to too much.  I guess if we are sick all weekend we can sort and toss!

Gunner's Kids....

Where do I find these kids?

Today Gunner's son Junior announced to the entire 3 year old class that I have a who-who, using proper terminology.  I'm having flashbacks to the movie Kindergarten Cop.  Then he told them I also have bobs.  His version of....well you know.

I ordered a shirt on clearance last year from Talbot's for a steal, and forgot to put him in it for Halloween.  I stumbled on it again, and he loves it.

He calls it his "Bad Mommy" shirt.  I tried to explain it to him that it was a MUMMY, but he refuses to believe it.  He calls me the "Good Mommy" at least.  

Notice his big boy haircut.  I love it!  Unfortunately a big boy haircut doesn't help him stop pooping in his pants, which he did at the gym tonight.  We knew when we heard the page what the deal was.  We've unfortunately come to expect it, even though we potty him right before we take him in the room.  I don't know what else to try!

Today I ran 3 miles, biked 10, and worked my core.  Monday was a run day as well.  I think Friday will be a swim day as my knees need a break.  Triathlon season is fast approaching and I bought my membership for the season, so I have to do at least 4 triathlons to break even.  My tri partner in Texas wants me to go back for an Olympic distance in May, so I am working out the logistics of it all--shipping the bike, ticket, training, etc. 

Gunner is doing great in his class!  Abs doesn't want to do any homework, but at least she is bringing it home.  Em is Em, the fastest texter in the world. 

The big news around here....

I went on a laundry strike and no one noticed. 

So much for making a statement!

How to have a bubble bath Abs style

1.  Fill the tub with water until your parents come in and tell you to turn it off.

2.  Wait until you think they aren't listening and turn the water back on.

3.  Hope that your parents get distracted by your baby brother pooping in his pants AGAIN.

4.  Turn off water again and let some out after your parents come in and stand there until the water is at an acceptable level.

5.  Look for bottles of shampoo and conditioner that you have not emptied yet and see if you can squeeze any more bubbles out of them.

6.  If that doesn't work then fill them up and empty the water into the toilet until you get bored or your parents check on you again and confiscate all the bottles.

7.  Turn the water on again until your parents notice.

8.  Splash around trying to make your own bubbles and instead get water all over the floor.

9.  Get out of tub and lock bathroom so your parents don't see wet floor.

10.  Parents are too smart for their own good, hear the click, and unlock the bathroom to find you cleaning up the mess with a towel.  (Note:  They are thankful that she is trying to clean up the mess for once)

11.  Listen to your parents tell you to wash your body and get out of tub.

12.  Remind parents there is no soap.

13.  Parents will give you brand new bar of soap.

14.  Turn water a murky color due to amount of lathering up.

15.  Get soap soft.

16.  Cram entire bar of soap into faucet and turn the water on high, creating a bubble bath.

17.  Get removed from the tub after having to sit there with your mom and pull soap out of the faucet.

18.  Promise not to do it again.  Rinse.  Repeat as often as possible, because they left out a bar of soap on accident.

The last time I bought bubble bath stuff, we had the glass shower doors and we had bubbles almost up to the top. 

P.S.  She wanted me to note that it didn't make that great of a bubble bath. 

My Junior

I was looking for the cord to the CD player tonight so we can try some classical music in Junior's room and maybe he will go to sleep.  The boy LOVES classical music.  Anyway, I stumbled on a CD with pictures that were taken of Junior when he was a few months old.

The day that Gunner went back on R&R, we were sitting in the airport saying goodbye, and Junior was 13 days old.  I was taking pictures of the two of them together when a lady stopped by and offered to shoot a couple of family shots.  We agreed, although I wasn't exactly feeling up to working it for the camera. 

She took a few pictures and then handed me her card, because she was a photographer and a military wife.  She offered to do a session of Junior for free, and another friend of hers came over to help, Tina Cho.  I looked for a recent webpage for her, but couldn't locate one.  Anyway, she got some great shots of my little guy to send to Gunner.

He's always had kind of a funky haircut.

Why the heck is everyone looking at me, and why am I hanging out in a basket?

Notice how he is leaning towards his left in each picture?  Torticollis.  I had no clue at the time, but he spent about 6 months in physical therapy getting it straightend out.  Apparently since he was kind of hefty (10 lbs 1 oz), he was out of room and just got lodged in there in one position while he baked.  I actually had to sleep with him for several months, because he could only sleep on one side in order to make sure that his features remained symmetrical (they were a little bit lopsided because of the torticollis and him sleeping on one side all the time).  I got no sleep because I was either nursing or checking on him, the little stinker.

But it all worked out, and he is healthy and not lopsided anymore, but the wild hair remains!

P.S.  The classical music worked and he was out within 5 minutes. 

Gunner's Abs

If she was my Abs, she would require more sleep.  Gunner always says "Sleep is a crutch". 

My Abs would not have spread an entire brand new box of expensive dog treats all over the house in an obstacle course to see if she could get Sammy to follow the trail.

If Abs was my child, then she would not have put the roll of toilet paper in the tub, over the shower curtain rod, and then the end in the toilet and sat there and flushed to see if the toilet was strong enough to unroll the entire roll of toilet paper.  Guess what, it is.

If Abs was my child, she would not have eaten the entire box of cheese crackers that I got for snack.  Six crackers in each package, 6 packages.  She was at least able to tell me that she ate 36 crackers.

My Abs would not be in her room trying to take a nap because she was tired from staying up all night.

To the mom of the little boy at Junior's daycare--back off!

My 9 blisters from my 6 mile run on Wednesday are not gone, but I might have to run this morning to work off some frustration.

Another 4 weeks

After Ab's IM training, they want to do some more training for another 4 weeks for 90 minutes, three times a week.  If it helps, I am all for it.  Will it stress me out to do it while Gunner is gone?  You betcha.

I think Em's bus driver was fired.  She wasn't on her afternoon run, and I know of two other people that called.  Em returned home with 25 signatures of people that said that they have seen her bus driver texting and driving.  They don't make laws for the heck of it people, don't text and drive!

I had Ab's 504 meeting today, and the counselor told me that she wanted to have weekly contact with me, but not if I was going to be contacting the school district.  Ummmm....if you did your job, I wouldn't have to.  My friend and I were talking about the other day--if people just did their jobs, then we wouldn't have half of the problems that we do.  Do what you say you will do!

Volunteering tomorrow.  Hopefully I can go check on a trial I have been watching.

Abs didn't have a wii party, but she did break into the Halloween candy and then go into her brother's room to play with his toys and turn his light on, and when he woke up, he was so excited to see her and get up.  She brought out the candy and I found them engrossed in building train tracks all over the room and setting up little people while sucking on lollipops.  (They weren't even gluten free)  All Halloween candy is in the trash now.

While I was at the meeting this afternoon, Gunner had to take off early so he could run Em to Girl Scouts, go pick up Junior, run to my neighbor's and pickup Abs, then drop Abs off at OT, then back to get Em, then home to make dinner while I went to sit at OT and wait on Abs.  I did get to see the IM in action, and it's pretty interesting.  They said that the majority of the effects are usually seen 3-6 months after completion. 

I did stop by Ab's desk after my meeting and found all the homework that she hasn't done since school resumed.  I found the notes the teacher had written me. She spent tonight cranking out all her homework.  Her teacher told me that she wasn't bringing her homework folder back to school or her agenda book.  It's in her backpack every day, but always empty.  We are working on some changes, which will hopefully help.

I think I might go visit a friend this weekend since Em will be gone and Gunner can have a slumber party/wii tournament with the kids.  Well if you can call it a visit when you have Bikram Yoga, P90x, and the gym thrown in for good measure.  I forsee pho in our future too, and with all that working out we should have a glass or two of wine shouldn't we?

A post about deployments coming up.